Deals Report: Three $1B+ takeouts highlight demand in immunology, renal

The three $1 billion-plus acquisitions announced in the past seven days keep the M&A momentum going, offering another positive sign for a sector still in recovery. They also underscore the growing strategic importance of immunology and inflammation for big biotechs and pharmas, while adding to the evidence that major players are increasingly viewing renal diseases as ripe for investment.  

Less than two weeks after Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) acquired Proteologix US Inc. for a dual-action antibody to treat immunological disorders, the pharma has reached another billion-dollar deal to gain access to a immunology asset, this time acquiring the Yellow Jersey Therapeutics subsidiary of Numab Therapeutics AG for $1.25 billion. The deal gives J&J Phase II-ready asset NM26, a bispecific targeting IL-4RA and IL-31...